Kick arse farce.There's affectionate offensive arse kicking and farce kissing in Declan Greene's The Homosexuals, or 'Faggots', an unabashed bashing of the politicly correct pomposity that has infected our society.
Weasel words and facile catch phrases have ferreted through the burrows of our language leaving in their wake a mire of managerialism, and Greene takes hilarious aim at the hollows of hubris, pockets of precocity and the Twitterstocracy.
The play begins with umbrage in high dudgeon. Warren and Kim, a newly wed male gay couple have been “slurred by a menu”. An item of fare, Faggots with mash and gravy, prove fair game for accusation of hotel homophobia.
From this delicious appetiser, we are flung into the main course, a farcical feast of fast talking, fleet footed staging, forced exits and fancy dress.
It is Mardi Gras. After vowing his philandering days over, Warren has invited a hot young model to the connubial abode for a euphemistic photo shoot, and when Kim prematurely comes home, Warren is forced to hide the six pack in a less libidinous way he'd envisaged.
Kim's early entrance is due to her humiliation at being accused of trans phobia by Bae Bae, a kind of Kardashian of Queer Studies.
To add insult and embarrassment to injury, Bae Bae is set to be interviewed by Warren as a cross promo for an upcoming TV show.
Meanwhile, old friend Diana arrives in a Bill Cosby mask to attend a bad taste Mardi Gras party and a crack head sous chef turned thief picks Warren and Kim's apartment to ransack.
Simon Burke as Warren and Simon Corfield as Kim are superb in both physical and spoken comedy, Lincoln Younes is suitably gormless as the buff Jewish model, and Genevieve Lemon bares her farce end as well as her fangs in a biting rebuke that has a palpable sting.
Mama Alto alternates between Bae Bae and Pam, the former an infantile philistine narcissist, the latter a clueless, confused foil.
Directed with gusto by Lee Lewis, whose equally excellent but greatly contrasting production of The Bleeding Tree is playing concurrently at The Wharf, The Homosexuals, or 'Faggots' is funny, frenetic and fearless.
Sensitive to the sensitivities of the play, Griffin Theatre has seen fit to advise potential punters of the play that The Homosexuals, or 'Faggots' contains strong coarse language, use of theatrical smoke, drug references, sexual content, and language and imagery which may be of sensitivity to audience members, including LGBTIQA+ audience members and people of particular ethnocultural and religious groups. It is not suitable for children. For a more detailed content warning, or to discuss any of the above please contact Griffin on 02 9332 1320 or email
You have been warned – now go and see it anyway.
Griffin Theatre Company in association with Malthouse Theatre presents
The Homosexuals, or 'Faggots'
by Declan Greene
Director Lee Lewis
Venue: SBW Stables Theatre | 10 Nimrod Street, Kings Cross NSW
Dates: 24 March – 29 April
Tickets: $55 – $35
Bookings: griffintheatre.com.au
